Art of Islam
Part 1 Class 1
1. Introduction, Overview and Key
Concepts
OVERVIEW: What to Expect from Class
• There is no compulsion in religion. Quran
2:256
• Matter-of-fact historical overview of Islamic Arts and
Culture. Exploration of the roles religion, geography
and tradition have played.
Context for comparison across time and styles. Relation
of Islamic Arts to more familiar Western forms.
• Focus on Moorish, Persian and Ottoman styles.
• Exploration Islamic arts, sciences and social practices
across diverse cultures.
• Limited discussion of modern trends.
• Combination of lecture, demonstration, and discussion.
Handouts and reading suggestions as appropriate.
• Available after class for questions.
KEY CONCEPTS
What is Islamic Art?
OUR DEFINITION
• Islamic Art is not just made
for Islamic practices and
places but art made by and
for people who live in lands
where most, or the most
important people, are
Muslims.
• Some Islamic Art was made
by Christians, Jews or others
for Muslims or their own
use. Muslims also created
art intended for use by
Jews, Christians or others.
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ISLAMIC ART
FLEXIBILITY AND TRANFERENCE ACROSS DISCIPLINES
REINTERPRETATION THRU TIME AND
ACROSS CULTURES
ADAPTABILITY OF SCALE
CALIGRAPHY AND THE BOOK
• Importance of Qur’an to
Islam gives importance
to calligraphy and the
art of bookmaking.
• Calligraphy is
considered “Queen” of
Islamic Arts as
compared with large
scale painting in the
West.
THE ARTS OF TRANSFORMATION
• REFERS TO ARTISTIC
ENDEVORS THAT
REQUIRE THE USE OF
FIRE TO CREATE THE
FINISHED PRODUCT.
• CERAMIC, GLASS, AND
METALWORK.
• CONSIDERED
“DECORATIVE ARTS” IN
WEST BUT ARE FINE
ARTS FOR ISLAM.
SPECIFIC SENSORY PREFERENCES
SOUND NOT SIGHT
SHAPE NOT SIZE
SCENT NOT COLOR
MOORISH TIME FRAME AND LOCALES
• MOORISH ART INCLUDES
SOUTHERN SPAIN AND
NORTH AFRICA TO EGYPT.
• VARIOUS DYNASTIES BUT
WITH CULTURAL
CONTINUITY AND
COHESION.
• LANGUAGE IS ARABIC.
• 711 TO 1300CE WITH
FOCUS ON 1000-1350CE.
PERSIAN TIME FRAME AND LOCALES
• PERSIAN CULTURAL CORE
CONSISTS OF AREA
BOUNDED BY CASPIAN
SEA IN NORTH,
EUPHRATES TO EAST,
PERSIAN GULF AND
ARABIAN SEA IN SOUTH
AND AFGHAN
HIGHLANDS TO EAST.
• PERSIAN NOT IRANIAN.
• LANGUAGE IS FARSI AND
IS WRITTEN IN ARABIC
SCRIPT.
•
DIFFERENT TIMES FOR DIFFERENT
ARTS
TH
TH
8 TO 17 CENTURIES
CE.
• POETRY 13-17TH
CENTURIES CE.
• ARCHITECTURE 7 TO
19TH CENTURIES CE.
• ARTS OF
TRANSFORMATION
ACROSS ALL PERIODS.
OTTOMAN TIME FRAME AND LOCALES
OTTOMAN NOT TURKISH
• OTTOMAN BORDERS
VARIED OVER TIME.
• ENCOMPASED WIDE
VARIETY OF ETHNIC
GROUPS , LANGUAGES
AND RELIGIONS.
• MAIN LANGUAGE WAS
OTTOMAN WRITTEN IN
ARABIC SCRIPT.
• 1450 TO 1800CE FOCUS.
FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM
• THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD
AND MOHAMMED IS HIS
PROPHET
• PRAY 5 TIMES A DAY
• CHARITY
• FAST DURING RAMADAM
• PILGRIMAGE TO MECCA
ONCE IN A LIFETIME IF ABLE
NEED MORE INFORMATION?
• Refer to hand out for a general overview of
the Five Pillars and Six Foundations.
• Best book for more in depth discussion is
Karen Armstrong, Islam
• If you have questions or want more
information we are available after class.
ALLAH
• ALLAH IS THE ARABIC
WORD FOR GOD. IT IS
NO DIFFERENT FROM
GOTT IN GERMAN OR
DIEU IN FRENCH. IT
ONLY MEANS GOD, NOT
A SPECIFICIALLY
MUSLIM GOD.
MUHAMMAD IS THE PROPHET OF
GOD
• ONLY A MAN.
• PROPHET AND
MESSANGER THRU
WHOM GOD SENT THE
KORAN.
• PREEMINENT ROLE
MODEL FOR LEADING A
MUSLIM LIFE.
SIX Foundations of Faith
•
•
•
•
•
•
Believe in God
His angels
His messengers/prophets
His Books
His determination of all things
The Day of Judgment
BELIFE IN KORAN
• PROVIDES SOURCE OF
INSPIRATION TO ALL
ART FORMS JUST AS
SCRIPTURES DO FOR
JEW AND CHRISTIANS.
ARTISTIC CONSEQUENCES OF BELIEF
NO IMAGES OF GOD
• GOD IS INEFFABLE.
MUSLIMS DO NOT
ASSOCIATE HIM WITH
ANY FORM.
• ISLAM DID NOT
DEVELOP TRADTION OF
LARGE SCALE PAINTING
OR SCULPTURE
BECAUSE OF THIS.
GOD IS ONE
• INTERIOR SPACE IN
MOSQUES IS OPEN AND
UNDIVDED UNLIKE
CHRISTIAN CHURCHES
WHICH MAY HAVE SIDE
AISLES AND SIDE
CHAPELS.
MOHAMMED IS HIS PROPHET
• NO REPRESENTATION OF
MOHAMMED TO AVOID
TREATING HIM AS
ANYTHING OTHER THAN
A MAN.
• NO RESPRESENTATION OF
HUMANS OR ANIMALS IN
SACRED SPACES.
• PUT ARTISTIC FOCUS ON
AREAS WEST DOES’NT
CONSIDER “FINE ARTS”.
GEOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY
• ARID, SEMI ARID AND
DESERT LANDS.
• MAIN WATER SOURCES
LARGE RIVER SYSTEMS OF
NILE, TIGRIS, EUPHRATES,
AMU DARYA, INDUS AND
GANGES.
• VAST STEPPES FROM
CENTAL ASIA THRU TO
TURKEY.
• POCKETS OF HIGH, RUGGED
MOUNTAIN RANGES AND
DEEP VALLEYS SEPARATED
FROM ONE ANOTHER.
CULTURE FLOWS EAST TO WEST NOT
NORTH TO SOUTH
EFFECTS ON ART AND CULTURE
• GEOGRAPHY PROVIDES
THE INSPIRATION FOR 4
OF THE 6 UNIVERSAL
THEMES-INFINITY, NIGHT,
THE RIVER/WATER, THE
MOUNTAIN.
• IT CREATES THE NECESITY
FOR HOSPITALITY TO
OTHERS IN SUCH HARSH
CLIMATES.